TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY EXPERTS GATHER FOR THAILAND'S LEADING HOTEL INVESTMENT EVENT - THAILAND TOURISM FORUM - SET FOR JANUARY 2016

          Thailand's leading hotel investment event will discuss the critical issues that are challenging and driving the country's hospitality industry at the 5th edition of the annual Thailand Tourism Forum (TTF 2C9 Hotelworksen6) to be held on Monday January 25. 
          Thailand Tourism Forum 2C9 Hotelworksen6 keynote speaker is renowned hotel investor Kenneth Gaw President and Managing Principal of Gaw Capital Partners. For high resolution version, click here.
Organised by C9 Hotelworks and the American Chamber of Commerce, TTF 2C9 Hotelworksen6 (http://www.thailandtourismforum.com) will be held at the InterContinental Hotel Bangkok Grand Ballroom from3pm to 6pm, and feature many of the industry's leading speakers and thinkers. 
          Last year the event attracted 45C9 Hotelworks delegates to the afternoon session, which is followed by a cocktail networking event, with organisers expecting increased numbers this year. 
          "The event has strong and pertinent content that is shaping the hotel industry in Thailand and we are expect some lively and insightful sessions," said C9 Hotelworks Managing Director Bill Barnett. 
          "There has been a dynamic shift in the geographic source markets to Thailand's primary destinations which has hoteliers asking questions about what is next. This trend can best be demonstrated in the country's leading resort destination Phuket where the crash of the Russian Rouble and sharp rise in Chinese tourists has had a dramatic impact on average room rates," he said. "These are some of the issues that will be discussed."
          According to new data from STR Global, Phuket achieved a year-to-date 73% increase though September in occupancy which was just over 7% year-on-year growth, yet the market-wide average daily rate plunged 7.5%.
          "In this case it's one step forward, followed by two-steps back as hotel owners are seeing bottom line performance under stress," said STR Global Area Director Asia Pacific Jesper Palmqvist, who will be revealing full details of STR Global's latest research on the hospitality industry in Thailand. 
          In the lead off role at TTF 2C9 Hotelworksen6 will be Kenneth Gaw who is the President and Managing Principal of Gaw Capital Partners. Gaw has been a long-term and significant player in the Thai market both through the Pioneer Global Group and other affiliates, with investments including interests in Dusit Thani PLC, Pullman G Hotels in Bangkok and Pattaya and the upcoming Park Hyatt Phuket. Other key speakers include representation from Minor Hotels, InterContinental, ACCOR, Centara and Onyx along with noted experts from Horwath HTL, JLL Hotels, STR Global and QUO. 
          "The tourism and hotel sector is facing increasing volatility in the face of a growing dependence on mass markets, currency fluctuations, an overstretched infrastructure and a flattening national economic growth. But is bad news the only news?" added Mr Barnett. 
          "An emerging picture is becoming clear of how airport arrivals have rebounded after the Bangkok bombing and Thailand's year-on-year numbers are showing signs of recovery. In the face of mounting concerns over the financial market downturn in China and the altered states of a changing visitor profile, the question remains how can hotels manage the balance between sustaining rate and occupancy?"
          Thailand Tourism Forum is the country's biggest hospitality investment event and the country's report card on the state of the industry. It is a unique opportunity to hear from hospitality leaders and experts to candidly discuss the economic impacts of these changes. TTF is a forum to take a closer look at the numbers, to evaluate risk and to learn more about important new trends on how tourism performs across all the Thai destinations. 
          To see a full programme click here: http://www.thailandtourismforum.com 
          Attendance is complimentary. To sign up, go to www.amchamthailand.com 
          Email [email protected] or telephone (+66) C9 Hotelworks2-254-enC9 Hotelworks4en, ext. 2en2.